Taliban Behead Two Pakistani Officials in Swat

[tekisui]

Source: Reuters

MINGORA, Pakistan, May 3 (Reuters) - Pakistani Taliban have beheaded two government officials in the northwestern Swat Valley in revenge for the killing of two insurgent commanders by security forces, a militant spokesman said on Sunday.

Authorities struck a peace deal in February aimed at ending militant violence in the former tourist valley of Swat but the militants have refused to disarm and pushed out of the valley into neighbouring districts.

The Pakistani Taliban aggression raised alarm in the United States and in Islamabad, and a week ago the security forces launched an offensive to expel militants from two of Swat's neighbouring districts.

The two government officials were kidnapped and beheaded on Saturday evening in Khuwaza Kheil, a village 18 km (10 miles) north of the valley's main town of Mingora, said town police chief Danishwar Khan.

Their bodies were dumped beside a road.

(snip)

More than 170 militants have been killed since the offensive was launched on April 26, according to the military. There has been no independent confirmation of the military's casualty reports.

more: http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed1/idUSISL175161

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[Glorfindel]

2. Recommend